WEDDING

The album is landscape, 13 x 19 cm. Internally clean on lightly-aged paper, stapled into worn and spotted printed covers. It contains 26 photographs (10 full-page and 16 half-page), on 18 leaves separated by tissue guards, a mixture of indoor and outdoor scenes, and some posed. Images include: 'Les Mariages de Plougastel-Daoulas. - Le Défile des Mariés'; 'La Gavotte Bretonne'; 'DOUARNENEZ. - Toilette de la Mariée'; Arrivée du Cortege au Bourg'; 'Le Repas de Noces.

Janet Maxwell married William Maxwell in Buittle Parish on 3 September 1839, and died three years later. The nine items, in good condition on lightly-aged paper, provide a fascinating insight into the requisites and cost of an early Victorian Scottish middle-class wedding, from the wedding 'pelisse' to the 'bride's cake'. ONE. Covering packet with manuscript note by J. H. Maxwell reading 'Vouchers | My Daughters marriage - clothes jewellery pocket money &c | 3d Sep 1839 | £439. 5. 4'. TWO. Autograph itemised account by J. H. Maxwell. 12mo, 1 p.

The pictures, which vary in size from 3 inches by 5 inches to 3 inches square, are crudely pasted to a piece of grey card, beneath a heading made up of three pieces apparently cut out of newspapers or magazines and reading 'Royal Wedding Day | 23 July | Andrew & Sarah 1986'. All seven pictures appear to be cropped, and several bear traces of glue. Corners dogeared. In pencil on reverse 'Photographs by Gerald Guttman (= photographer)'. Four pictures, apparently taken from the television, feature the royal couple.